I've always considered the Haynes/Chilton manuals to be written for non-professional mechanics (and they often contain some pretty interesting stuff). Whereas factory manuals show what to do, not necessarily how to do it. For this reason, I like to have both.
It would be nice if they passed a law that service manuals had to be included or available for free as a download with a vehicle purchase. In fact it should probably include the purchases of any equipment like a TV or laptop.
Cheers for the video content! Apologies for the intrusion, I would love your initial thoughts. Have you heard about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (search on google)? It is a great one off guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the hard work. Ive heard some great things about it and my GF after a lifetime of fighting got amazing results with it.
Cheers for the Video! Excuse me for the intrusion, I would love your opinion. Have you thought about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (Sure I saw it on Google)? It is a great one of a kind product for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the headache. Ive heard some decent things about it and my BF after many years got amazing results with it.
Thanks for the Video clip! Forgive me for the intrusion, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you heard the talk about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (should be on google have a look)? It is a great one off guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way minus the headache. Ive heard some awesome things about it and my buddy at last got cool success with it.
Lovely Video clip! Excuse me for chiming in, I am interested in your initial thoughts. Have you heard about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (do a google search)? It is a good one off guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way minus the normal expense. Ive heard some amazing things about it and my GF finally got excellent results with it.
James B Appreciate video content! Sorry for butting in, I am interested in your initial thoughts. Have you ever tried - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (erm, check it on google should be there)? It is a great one off guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way minus the hard work. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my cousin at very last got excellent results with it.
realest s#it ever i be like but how did you get from a to b because realistically its a to t they just lazy put a spin on it like use your imagination get all the info you needs within these paperback walls
Hi Eric, I agree that every manual has it's place. I think manuals like Haynes are more of an overview of vehicle repair, so I'm glad I started out with a Haynes for my first new car: 1990 Pontiac Grand Am with the 2.3L Quad4. I had never done any type of maintenance on a car. Not even an oil change. I read all of chapter 1 in that manual and learned how to do all the scheduled/preventive maintenance on that car and then when the head gasket blew at 125K miles, I used that manual and only that manual to change the head gasket. I ended up junking that car at 348K miles, so Haynes did a good job covering the process of changing a head gasket on that car. I don't have the car anymore but I still have the book...lol. Fast forward 30 years and with all the experience I've gained in those years, I now prefer the FSMs. They're specific to your car but they don't give you the general knowledge a Haynes manual does. I don't know if I could've started doing my own auto repairs with the FSM.
I used to have a Subaru Impreza. The starter went out and I had no idea how to remove it. Haynes walked me through step by step how to remove it. Chiltons said, "Remove bolts. Installation is reverse of removal."
Kudos for the video content! Forgive me for chiming in, I am interested in your thoughts. Have you thought about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (erm, check it on google should be there)? It is a good exclusive guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the hard work. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my buddy finally got cool results with it.
and at the very least haynes is honest. Ive been working on a weird shifter linkage adjustment, and the manual states "this repair is beyond the scope of this manual"
Lovely Video clip! Excuse me for the intrusion, I am interested in your initial thoughts. Have you heard the talk about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (Sure I saw it on Google)? It is a smashing exclusive guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the normal expense. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my old buddy Taylor at very last got amazing success with it.
Appreciate video content! Sorry for chiming in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you heard about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (Sure I saw it on Google)? It is a great one of a kind product for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the normal expense. Ive heard some decent things about it and my mate finally got cool results with it.
Lovely Video clip! Forgive me for butting in, I would love your thoughts. Have you thought about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (should be on google have a look)? It is a good one of a kind product for learning how to repair your car the easy way minus the hard work. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my BF after many years got astronomical success with it.
Thanks for the Video! Apologies for chiming in, I would appreciate your thoughts. Have you tried - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (probably on Google)? It is a good one of a kind product for learning how to repair your car the easy way minus the hard work. Ive heard some amazing things about it and my GF at very last got great success with it.
great video eric! about the PDF format manuals, those types of manuals can usually be found for free in the forums related to that specific car. for both of my nissans, i have the PDF format factory service manual, and its REALLY helpful! if you're a handyman or a backyard mechanic, the factory service manual can really help you out. i was able to switch out my oil-cooler O-ring thanks to the factory service manual!
I found the 5 volume set of factory service manuals for my 1999 Chrysler Cirrus and they are AWESOME. Chrysler manuals also show a picture of any special tools that may be needed for a given task and everything is broken down to the wiring and each bolt. Paid $20 for the set. If you're able to get your hands on yours, get it.
Great video! I got used to Helm manuals for a long time. Then when I started driving Hondas in the "90s", I moved to the big shop manuals. I love them! I really like the torque value and size for every fastener!
I recently purchased the Bently BMW E9x series manual, and I believe it's about the best that's available to consumers for these cars. It's a hard cover book, and it's a great investment if you plan on keeping the car.
Shane Sexton i've got a bentley servicemanual for the 986 porsche boxster (my96-04) and apart from not being avaliable in my native language (german) it's great, it covers everything i can imagine about repairing a car, even the electronics. the only thing it doesn't cover is rebuilding the transmission and partially the engine. set me back 80€.
I am a big fan of any type of any type of information of course the best are the manufacture manuals, but thanks to you and many other people who post information for diy like me , no need for any of that stuff any more. I really appreciate all your videos that has helped me so much, thank you
Those factory service manuals are worth their weight in gold (even with the hilarious Japanese spellings). I still like the Haynes/Chilton guides though as there usually nuggets of information in each of them that you dont find on the others. Some of the stuff in them can be a bit generic, but they sometimes have some good photos of part locations that are in tricky places. If I know I'm going to be doing any major work on a car I use all three (factory/Haynes/Chilton). Downloads or CD-ROMs are awesome as you can put them on iPads and take them out to the vehicle, but paper manuals are great and are a good staple for bathroom reading ;) I'm not a mechanic/technician (my dad was and a lot of times but wish I had been) so only need to buy the manuals for my own vehicles, and I can see how it can be cost prohibitive for private repair shops, unless PDF downloads can get factored into repair costs.
Same here. I saved myself alot of money by repairing my own car with Haynes. And I knew jack shit about cars going in the only mistake I've found was the firing sequence when I changed the plugs.
Have to agree, factory manual in pdf is the best. Especially when it comes to removing trim panels, always seems to be a certain trick to doing it, without breaking or damaging the part, that the factory manual goes over step by step. Another good thing is you can print out certain pages so you have all your torque specs, and tolerances, and not worry about ruining a book, or your computer while doing a job.
Im not a fan of pdf... because i like having the book right there with me as a work on the car... its kinda a pain trying to use a phone if you have oily and or gloved fingers.. the paper copy is soooo much better... and im not even old I grew up using smart phones.
Factory Manuals, you can order from the Factory or Dealership, or you can find used on Ebay, and other online classified sites. Sometimes you might get lucky on searching on google and find one someone else has previously uploaded as a huge pdf file.
You are not the first man ever in the world to say they hate Haynes manuals. They are o.k. for a quick reference, but they are very vague with important information and often times tell you to have major repair work done at a dealer service department, and totally dismiss the subject your are looking for. I did not pay for a Haynes manual to tell me to 'get it fixed somewhere else'. I also purchased a used repair manual that you would find at a dealer, and is well worth the money.
And as for .pdf vs paper copy, price not withstanding, there's something to be said for being able to have the actual book with when you are under the hood or tearing apart your dashboard. Thanks for the great video, Eric.
Yes I agree with you but now a days you just have your Notepad or laptop or even your phone right there with you. I just screenshot the part out of my PDF copy manual that I am working on and send it to my phone and have it right with me and you can zoom in to bits that you can't see clearly, so for me now and I am 67 years old books are out dated.
Love the downloadable versions, sometimes they update them too. Best book or manual for service was the Mini Cooper service manual. It covered 7 years of minis all styles and the pictures and print were top notch, hard back cover too, loved it! Great info here
I absolutely agree especially with Mopar Nissan and Honda vehicles is you need to refer to the factory service manual the Haynes manual will make you want to pull your hair out, usually I like the Chilton version but I would still prefer the factory service manual set
Great Video! Apologies for the intrusion, I am interested in your opinion. Have you considered - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (Sure I saw it on Google)? It is a smashing one off product for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the headache. Ive heard some unbelievable things about it and my mate got excellent success with it.
Great video content! Excuse me for butting in, I would appreciate your initial thoughts. Have you ever tried - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (erm, check it on google should be there)? It is a good exclusive guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the normal expense. Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my old buddy Taylor after a lifetime of fighting got great success with it.
Thanks for the video content! Apologies for chiming in, I would love your opinion. Have you ever tried - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (probably on Google)? It is an awesome one of a kind guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the hard work. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my mate after many years got great results with it.
Good video, and good information. I guess I'm old school, I like having a book in front of me to look through. Can't beat the price of the download though.
The problem I have with Chilton & Haines service manuals is that they constantly fallback to "Consult a qualified service center for this type of repair"... I bought it so I would learn how to do the work, not for it to tell me to take it to the dealer. And they also fall short on model year differences for those editions that cover a large number of vehicles(like the "Chrysler Full-Size Trucks 1967-1988")... not only model years, but model and even makes. All of which has subtle differences. Sometimes there is just no information for a given model in a given year... just look at all the changes made to the 318 over the years. They are great for basic stuff, and I call them the "Extended Owner's Manual".... but for real repair work... NO.
I view the Haynes/Chilton manual as being designed for the home/DIY person who has very little experience and who really shouldn't do some repairs on their own, like me. I can change an alternator but have no business changing a transmission. I see the Factory Service Manuals as for the professional mechanic or advanced home mechanic.
It's pretty obvious Haynes is targeted to the non-professional DIY-er and they seem to have taken the conscious decision to not go to the most advanced stuff, most probably because the books would be 3 or 4 times larger. At the end of the day it's not a huge deal. If you do reach a level that Haynes is incomplete, then it might be time to ignore such types of manuals and go directly to official service manuals (but those assume pros).
I ordered the '99 Corvette service manuals on CD. There are three paperback manuals for that year. I got all three on a CD for $59 I've seen the old manuals go for over $400 used.
I bought myself a manual for my 1998 Civic (manual covers 1996-2000) directly from Helm publishing new. Only cost me like $52 + shipping, IIRC. Didn't get the ETM, though. That book is almost like a "technician in a book," as it were. I mean you obviously still have to have SOME degree of mechanical know-how, but it is as Eric said, it is like a bible. It includes EVERY SINGLE THING you could possibly want a diagram of (except a large portion of the electronics). I love it! Completely worth it!
It's a cost factor. Haynes manuals are usually only about $20, so that's another way of saying that they have their place. I also find the Haynes books seem to present certain things in a more laymen way. In my field, which happens to be IT, it's like comparing Microsoft TechNet to ForDummy's books.
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Thanks for the Video clip! Sorry for chiming in, I would appreciate your thoughts. Have you ever tried - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now)? It is an awesome one off product for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the headache. Ive heard some great things about it and my buddy at last got amazing success with it.
Nice video content! Forgive me for chiming in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you heard about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (probably on Google)? It is a good exclusive product for learning how to repair your car the easy way minus the headache. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my m8 finally got excellent results with it.
Thanks for the Video clip! Sorry for the intrusion, I would appreciate your initial thoughts. Have you heard the talk about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (Sure I saw it on Google)? It is a smashing exclusive product for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the hard work. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my close friend Aubrey finally got great results with it.
EricTheCarGuy Kudos for the Video clip! Apologies for chiming in, I would appreciate your thoughts. Have you thought about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (do a google search)? It is an awesome one of a kind guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the hard work. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my cooworker at last got astronomical success with it.
I know this vid may be old, but combining a tablet with an electronic version of an FSM is the best way to go, you can search and look for troubleshooting pages within the PDF while you are inside the car or near the engine and compare what you see on the PDF and the actual vehicle
Loving the fact that Eric is uselessly covering up the brand name on the manual that appears at 5:36. He showed it for a split second, and we all recognise the general design and layout of the book. We know the name of it.
The last time I used a Haynes manual was on my '95 Tbird. I was replacing the passenger side window motor. It had me drill out the rivets on the bracket and, after I had to buy a pop rivet gun, put new rivets in. After I got 75% through the job I realized that the car NOW has three bolts that allow the motor to be removed without having to do that anymore, which the manual did NOT mention. Obviously the car was updated for that model year, but not the manual, which did cover that year. I bought an official Ford shop manuals (one for mechanics and one for electric) after that. I also have official Honda Shop manuals for my Hondas.
Haynes repair book transmission removal and installation: 1 disconnect battery cables 2 Jack up car 3 Remove all bolts holding transmission in car 4 drag out out from under the car 5 fix it 6 resemble in reverse order
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The Haynes may not be as good but for me, it's way beyond the point of paying for it's self. Just one example is it showed the engine block coolant drain plugs. I've never owned a sealed coolant system with no radiator cap before. Thought I was starting a 1hr job but was a nightmare till I got the Haynes the next day. If it saves you from the cost of even one dealer repair then it pays for itself by a factor of X ( X = ALOT ).
Another advantage of the PDF manuals is the ability to zoom up - when you need to take a closer look at an assembly, there's nothing better than simply zoom and pan!
Don't forget, the Vatozone site has similar-to-Haynes manuals accessible for free, as well as your local libraries. Also, check out dedicated car forums. Digital copies are usually available one way or another
i have a 79 chevy truck i'm fixing up, and i went and got a chiltons i think for it and it was ok. NOT what i expected for what i payed for it, but adequate. My uncle has the same truck and he had the service manual and he let me borrow it. world of difference it has everything in there. so when he wanted his back i found one online for 40 buck, i would have payed twice that. deff worth having.
I personally have no issues with Chilton or Haynes manuals. Both are usually fairly parallell in info and cheap but I will get them both for each vehicle I own because they do each have data or color pictures of things like spark plug conditions that the other doesnt and you can buy them used for around $8. That being said, I also purchased the 4 volume factory service manuals for my 2001 toyota for $130 at rock auto because the chiltonians and haynes do leave out details for hardcore repairs or in-depth diagnostics
when I DIY repairs at home, haynes and chilton have good stuff and info for cars, and have general specs and procedures. for example when doing suspension, it iwll tell you you need to remove a certain piece FIRST, which saves time form doing by figuring it out. often the haynes manuals pictures arent the best and can leave you second guessing yourself. nothing against them, its just sometimes, they arent in "context" if you know what I mean.
I just ordered the electrical troubleshooting manual for my Odyssey. I already own the fat service manual and had not realized what I was missing. Eric's video cost me $20!
My 2001 Celica has no paper Chilton or Haynes manual. It can be found online. I printed the basics and add pages whenever I work on a repair or project.
As the new cars come out and they start finding problems with them at the dealerships, the mechanics that work on them see the problems first. Corporates usually try to keep the information from going public. After the lawyers and engineers look at the problem, then they decide if recalls need to be made and what repairs will be covered under warranty. Are there any websites where engineers or techs may discuss this stuff and stay anonymous but let the public techs see this info.
Amen. I picked up manuals for my car (chev impala) on ebay for cheap. Everything is in there. Only thing I don't like is all the references to special tools that I don't have, and special procedures that I can't do. For example, it says programming a new key requires a special tool, but there's no mention of the fact that leaving the key 'on' for 10 minutes will also program it. Awesome video, though.
I liked how you said "The Automatic transmission, the reason why I got this" Honda really messed up on their V6 automatics. lol I hope you resolve your issues. I think in 05 they re-designed them for better fluid flow to the 3rd gear clutch packs. Maybe you can get a crashed one from a Junkyard.. Also, a factory service manual is an excellent tool, and can save you A LOT of money. Great video.
If you search really hard you can get the pdf. manuals for free on the many car forums. I downloaded a manual for my 94-97 accord for free many years ago and it has come in very handy.
you made some good points however i would like to add that the only downside for the pdf version is that it is not convenient if you have an overheated engine, dead battery, or flat tire and you need a resource to look up a procedure unless you're experienced and know what you're doing
I get mine from Amazon. I purchased a manual on Chevy front and rear suspension systems and Chevy Trucks and engines used for like 5 bucks a piece. They were in pretty bad shape but the paper is of high qaulity. Haynes repair manuals have manuals for every car and truck you can imagine. They even have manuals on decommissioned NASA shuttles.
I've got my Honda Accord factory service manual book and on CD and V6 supplemental manual. I guard it with my life. Bishko makes automotive literature on paperback or CD. I got mine from Amazon.
For the price, nothing beats a digital download of the manual, BUT you have to take into consideration the (sometimes) inconvenience of having to use a computer WHILE working on your vehicle. That's why I've always preferred the books, ease of access.
I have the .pdf shop manual and an Alldata subscription for my 08 Focus. Almost identical but alldata gives me updated TSB's which have saved me tons of time tracking down a couple of problems. Aftermarket manuals often cover multiple years of cars in the same book and can lead to some confusion. I love the torque settings in the shop manuals given all the plastic and aluminum in today's engines. Although the engineers that write them sometimes over complicate some procedures
I purchased a Haynes manual for my car, a BMW E34 525i, and any time I've tried to use it I found the information insufficient and ended up using the far superior Bentley manual or Lord Google.
A Hayens manuel is great for the DIY guys like me. I do like the Hayens manuel because ther are lots of images in ther and becaus i just started of working on my car it's a great help to see the things you have to do. The electronic manual is great as well i know that as well but then again i dont have i PC or laptop in my garage at home so that's why i go for paper books.
I agree 100% with you and now trying to find my factory service manual for my 1994 Ford Mustang Convertible for download. But I'm having trouble finding it. Do you have or does anyone have any suggestions to where to go to find the service manual for download? Also it sucks that you have to keep repeating your self over and over again. But I would do the same thing. Your just protecting yourself. Keep up the good work and thank you for taking your time to make videos for us to watch.
The only real difference in the workshop manuals is the level of skill of the reader. You are a professional so you need the full blast version, the hobbyest just needs a basic one with pictures and colouring crayons , lol :-) Ive used haynes for years and they are great for a basic understanding, and basic settings, if your just replacing bits for new the haynes are great!. Pdf's are good if they are not just crude scans of a manual. Good vlog :-)
no. like he said in the beginning. it could be any store bought manual. difference is the shop service manual comes directly from car company itself. for example in this video Honda. Chilton, Haynes, or whatever you may use they are a cheaper version of the factory service manuals.
When I first bought an e-copy of the '05 Neon service manual from eBay, it was advertised for the '00-'05 Neon but was actually an '04 Neon manual. It was mostly accurate, but the little differences got a little annoying. All of them were '04 Neon manuals, and at least the one I bought turned out to be pirated. However, when I broke down and found the paper manual, it was actually for the '05 Neon. So far it seems more accurate for my car, but only time spent reading will tell.
I agree, I would print the pages I need, but sometimes while in the midst of a repair or diagnosis you are not going to know to print every page or diagram you need, so in those instances the dead-tree manual does have an advantage. Not a big issue really, but if came across a Toyota FSM/ETM for my Corolla and the price was $80, I'd jump.
Beware when ordering the SAAB 9000 factory manuals; the real deal comes in a stack of boxes and the manuals alone stack up to about a meter. Now in our case that included the revised versions for a couple of years but I totally agree with ETCG, the factory manuals are worth every penny. They have complete disassembly and troubleshooting guides and pictures of actual service for the tricky parts, and this goes on for each and every component. Trust me, you want them.
i agree with you. i got a haynes manual for a e46 bmws and sometimes they start explaining how to do a repair, but in the middle they start to complicate things. not only that, mine does not explain hot to rebuild a diff because it says that you need special tools. haynes are generic.
I like haynes manuals for the simpler repair work, as they often will list and have a picture of a way to get something off without the Manufacturers special tool.
I try to get a hold of the factory service manuals and technical service bulletins. but failing that, a Haynes will suffice for most jobs. I prefer the digital copies over hard copies as I can keep backups and keep the tsb's up to date.
The wiring diagrams can be very vague, the haynes manual does two versions for my car (a peugeot 406) one is for 1996 to 2000 cars, the other is 2000-2004, but even with the newer book the wiring diagrams were for the non multiplexed cars up to 2001, the wiring system changed in 2002 so all the diagrams are useless.
Hayes is a good manual its deals with most things and its laid out for a person that knows the basics for the job.. The factory manual i want is so hard to find (mk3 golf VR6).. I mainly use AUTODATA & ETKA give me all the info i need.
If you do some digging you can sometimes find the E versions online for free, mainly for older cars. i found the honda one for my 91 integra threw google in some old forum post somewhere and its been a fantastic resource
A lot of the time you can search car forums for links to these PDFs for free. If your time is worth a lot of money though and you can't find it right away then for sure find a someone who will sell it to you. I went to a Honda forum and found a link to the shop manual for my '98 Civic.
I'm in college right now for autos and we use nothing but identifix and on demand 5. Both are updated automatically and you pay for it yearly i believe.
Uh, oh, I was almost convinced to throw Rob's Chilton & Haynes manuals away.... But thought that I'd better not, I'll just get the factory service manual on disc for him, that way all will be well on the homestead!!!! LOL . Merrie-Merrie
Thanks for the information. It seems better to pay a little more and buy the shop service manuals even though I don't work on cars besides very basic repairs. But, I can pay one of a few friends who are experienced and the money I will save will more than pay for the shop manual.
I found a full set of my car's service manuals for only around $25 and the Haynes was under $10. I went ahead and got both because it's better that way in my opinion. The other car I'm thinking about getting is a '94 Grand Marquis and they have a set of those manuals for around $75 on eBay. I try to avoid pirated content and I think those PDFs on eBay are illegal, so I just hope that the cars I buy have cheap service manuals or I can use multiple other resources. My college has a database for automotive and it's not way too extensive but it's still free.
You get what you pay for. You want to do a professional repair, pay for a professional manual. You want to do an amateur repair, go with the Haynes. The Haynes manual is based on a complete tear down and rebuild of the car, nothing more. For many things in cars, you actually can simply take them apart and put them back together, but if you're looking to seriously repair your vehicle properly, you'll want to know torque specs, what fluids to use when and where, and real diagrams.
Yeah, they do have some useful information. I do like the "Problem Diagnostic" feature at the rear of the manual but the same problem reoccurs again and again no matter what the task in hand. Not enough detail. Which, given you're relying on them to guide you through a repair is ridiculous. The amount of times I've been half way through a task and then it might as well of burst into flames for how useful it became, is unreal. There's nothing more frustrating than having to abandon a repair.
I love Factory manuals. I have one for our 2008 Honda Civic FN2R and one for our 2000 S2000. The one we got for the Civic is a factory manual we were able to buy off Honda brand new. This was the most expensive manual I have ever bought at $300 a book (and there was 2 large and a sup), while the S2000 was only $50 for 2 its a used book but I live in Aus, we didn't get a Paper manual so I had to get a US manual. Only difference is the steering wheel is on the wrong side, but the rest is great :)
I have a Mercedes WIS and it takes a month to figure out, then the circuit diagrams are as you say, "Bits and pieces." I thought Mercedes would be better than most.
I love the old paper manual for my 98 Dodge Ram. But the electronic version for my wife's lexus is way too expensive for me to subscribe to continuously. Even a 48 hour peek is expensive. Sure, it is probably more up to date, but at great cost. I'll have to look for a non-dealer to sell me a PDF version, which lexus don't seem to offer.
I am lucky I bought all the factories manuals when the Collier chevy dealer closed. I went to the auction and they had over 10 items up for sale . I bought 2003 venture 1991 camry and 2009 honda civic If I knew then what I know now I would have bought the set it sold for 150 bucks.I got my sets for 22 bucks . The guy who bought all the rests of the sets for 150 bucks. I could have made thousands!!!!! I also have Chilton which is pretty good. I find the non factory ones show how to do it
Electronic manuals are great easier to find what you are looking for but I still need to print out the pages of interest before I go out on a job. I hate an oily keyboard and mouse,
do you have access to All Data or other online sources? I'm getting into a habit of always checking proper procedures before jumping into any repair, it's a really good idea too. I use a free repair info source through my local library. It;s not the best but it helps a lot sometimes. It even had the procedure to time a cam synchro shaft and so far no trouble codes.
Toyota TIS is $15 for 48 hours, you could save all the .pdf files for the Lexus in that time and stitch together a nice manual for future reference.....
First of all I wanted to say thanks for covering the Subaru. I have a 2000 Subaru with 60k mi and while it's still handling as good as when I got it I'd like to learn about how subaru's are built in general. One thing I wanted to say about ebooks in general is that while they appear to be a good deal the publishers themselves usually do not sell them for much less than their physical book counterpart not to say that's the case here and you did buy it so I think it's fair that you paid $8 for it.
The BMW manuals for download (I must assume including the ones in print that's for sale) on eBay that claim to cover "3 Series E30 1982 or 1984 to 1994" are a misrepresentation. They don't cover beyond 1990. Anyone needing a repair manual for the "1991 318i and 318is made for America market" will find that most manuals skip the model so there's no information on the M42B18 engine and related systems in these cars. It seems you must buy two factory repair manuals, one covering the years before and one covering the years after the 1991 model. If you or anyone knows different or better, I would certainly appreciate your sharing this knowledge. Thanks.
I've always considered the Haynes/Chilton manuals to be written for non-professional mechanics (and they often contain some pretty interesting stuff). Whereas factory manuals show what to do, not necessarily how to do it. For this reason, I like to have both.
The motor manual was the best back in the day hands down matter of fact people still referre too them GODSPEED
It would be nice if they passed a law that service manuals had to be included or available for free as a download with a vehicle purchase. In fact it should probably include the purchases of any equipment like a TV or laptop.
That would be awesome.
Electronics used to have schematic diagrams inside the cabinet.
and its full of spyware/etc
Seriously? That would mean that the dealer repair guys would lose business......They couldn’t let that happen...
Cheers for the video content! Apologies for the intrusion, I would love your initial thoughts. Have you heard about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (search on google)? It is a great one off guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the hard work. Ive heard some great things about it and my GF after a lifetime of fighting got amazing results with it.
Hanes manual
1-disconnect negative battery terminal
2-remove engine accessories
3-remove engine
Installation is the reverse of removal.
Cheers for the Video! Excuse me for the intrusion, I would love your opinion. Have you thought about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (Sure I saw it on Google)? It is a great one of a kind product for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the headache. Ive heard some decent things about it and my BF after many years got amazing results with it.
Thanks for the Video clip! Forgive me for the intrusion, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you heard the talk about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (should be on google have a look)? It is a great one off guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way minus the headache. Ive heard some awesome things about it and my buddy at last got cool success with it.
Lovely Video clip! Excuse me for chiming in, I am interested in your initial thoughts. Have you heard about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (do a google search)? It is a good one off guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way minus the normal expense. Ive heard some amazing things about it and my GF finally got excellent results with it.
James B Appreciate video content! Sorry for butting in, I am interested in your initial thoughts. Have you ever tried - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (erm, check it on google should be there)? It is a great one off guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way minus the hard work. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my cousin at very last got excellent results with it.
realest s#it ever i be like but how did you get from a to b because realistically its a to t they just lazy put a spin on it like use your imagination get all the info you needs within these paperback walls
Hi Eric, I agree that every manual has it's place. I think manuals like Haynes are more of an overview of vehicle repair, so I'm glad I started out with a Haynes for my first new car: 1990 Pontiac Grand Am with the 2.3L Quad4. I had never done any type of maintenance on a car. Not even an oil change. I read all of chapter 1 in that manual and learned how to do all the scheduled/preventive maintenance on that car and then when the head gasket blew at 125K miles, I used that manual and only that manual to change the head gasket. I ended up junking that car at 348K miles, so Haynes did a good job covering the process of changing a head gasket on that car. I don't have the car anymore but I still have the book...lol. Fast forward 30 years and with all the experience I've gained in those years, I now prefer the FSMs. They're specific to your car but they don't give you the general knowledge a Haynes manual does. I don't know if I could've started doing my own auto repairs with the FSM.
I used to have a Subaru Impreza. The starter went out and I had no idea how to remove it.
Haynes walked me through step by step how to remove it.
Chiltons said, "Remove bolts. Installation is reverse of removal."
Kudos for the video content! Forgive me for chiming in, I am interested in your thoughts. Have you thought about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (erm, check it on google should be there)? It is a good exclusive guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the hard work. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my buddy finally got cool results with it.
Blessings, John 3:16. Jesus loves you.
I too have found mistakes on factory manuals, still the best though. Although after market manual are good too, better than no manual.
and at the very least haynes is honest. Ive been working on a weird shifter linkage adjustment, and the manual states "this repair is beyond the scope of this manual"
how belittlesome
Lovely Video clip! Excuse me for the intrusion, I am interested in your initial thoughts. Have you heard the talk about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (Sure I saw it on Google)? It is a smashing exclusive guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the normal expense. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my old buddy Taylor at very last got amazing success with it.
Appreciate video content! Sorry for chiming in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you heard about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (Sure I saw it on Google)? It is a great one of a kind product for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the normal expense. Ive heard some decent things about it and my mate finally got cool results with it.
Lovely Video clip! Forgive me for butting in, I would love your thoughts. Have you thought about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (should be on google have a look)? It is a good one of a kind product for learning how to repair your car the easy way minus the hard work. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my BF after many years got astronomical success with it.
Thanks for the Video! Apologies for chiming in, I would appreciate your thoughts. Have you tried - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (probably on Google)? It is a good one of a kind product for learning how to repair your car the easy way minus the hard work. Ive heard some amazing things about it and my GF at very last got great success with it.
great video eric! about the PDF format manuals, those types of manuals can usually be found for free in the forums related to that specific car. for both of my nissans, i have the PDF format factory service manual, and its REALLY helpful! if you're a handyman or a backyard mechanic, the factory service manual can really help you out. i was able to switch out my oil-cooler O-ring thanks to the factory service manual!
I remember how popular those Haynes books were back in the early to mid 90's, it was like the playboy magazine section of all auto parts stores.😂😂😂
I found the 5 volume set of factory service manuals for my 1999 Chrysler Cirrus and they are AWESOME. Chrysler manuals also show a picture of any special tools that may be needed for a given task and everything is broken down to the wiring and each bolt. Paid $20 for the set. If you're able to get your hands on yours, get it.
Great video! I got used to Helm manuals for a long time. Then when I started driving Hondas in the "90s", I moved to the big shop manuals. I love them! I really like the torque value and size for every fastener!
I recently purchased the Bently BMW E9x series manual, and I believe it's about the best that's available to consumers for these cars. It's a hard cover book, and it's a great investment if you plan on keeping the car.
Shane Sexton i've got a bentley servicemanual for the 986 porsche boxster (my96-04) and apart from not being avaliable in my native language (german) it's great, it covers everything i can imagine about repairing a car, even the electronics. the only thing it doesn't cover is rebuilding the transmission and partially the engine. set me back 80€.
I am a big fan of any type of any type of information of course the best are the manufacture manuals, but thanks to you and many other people who post information for diy like me , no need for any of that stuff any more. I really appreciate all your videos that has helped me so much, thank you
Those factory service manuals are worth their weight in gold (even with the hilarious Japanese spellings).
I still like the Haynes/Chilton guides though as there usually nuggets of information in each of them that you dont find on the others. Some of the stuff in them can be a bit generic, but they sometimes have some good photos of part locations that are in tricky places. If I know I'm going to be doing any major work on a car I use all three (factory/Haynes/Chilton). Downloads or CD-ROMs are awesome as you can put them on iPads and take them out to the vehicle, but paper manuals are great and are a good staple for bathroom reading ;)
I'm not a mechanic/technician (my dad was and a lot of times but wish I had been) so only need to buy the manuals for my own vehicles, and I can see how it can be cost prohibitive for private repair shops, unless PDF downloads can get factored into repair costs.
Same here. I saved myself alot of money by repairing my own car with Haynes. And I knew jack shit about cars going in the only mistake I've found was the firing sequence when I changed the plugs.
I totally agree with you. Those non-factor electrical schematics are quite confusing compared to the factor electrical trouble shoot manuals.
Have to agree, factory manual in pdf is the best. Especially when it comes to removing trim panels, always seems to be a certain trick to doing it, without breaking or damaging the part, that the factory manual goes over step by step. Another good thing is you can print out certain pages so you have all your torque specs, and tolerances, and not worry about ruining a book, or your computer while doing a job.
Im not a fan of pdf... because i like having the book right there with me as a work on the car... its kinda a pain trying to use a phone if you have oily and or gloved fingers.. the paper copy is soooo much better... and im not even old I grew up using smart phones.
Factory Manuals, you can order from the Factory or Dealership, or you can find used on Ebay, and other online classified sites. Sometimes you might get lucky on searching on google and find one someone else has previously uploaded as a huge pdf file.
You are not the first man ever in the world to say they hate Haynes manuals. They are o.k. for a quick reference, but they are very vague with important information and often times tell you to have major repair work done at a dealer service department, and totally dismiss the subject your are looking for. I did not pay for a Haynes manual to tell me to 'get it fixed somewhere else'. I also purchased a used repair manual that you would find at a dealer, and is well worth the money.
Thanks Eric. I went ahead and ordered the Factory Service Manual PDF form for my 2003 Subaru Outback.
I use Alldata and Mitchell1. Both are PC based. Mitchell1 has one of the simplest wiring diagram layouts.
I've always used Alldata. could be better though.
Berko Soccer Alldata isn't. I don't know about the other one. You can usually find a promo code by searching "alldatadiy coupon code"
And as for .pdf vs paper copy, price not withstanding, there's something to be said for being able to have the actual book with when you are under the hood or tearing apart your dashboard. Thanks for the great video, Eric.
Yes I agree with you but now a days you just have your Notepad or laptop or even your phone right there with you. I just screenshot the part out of my PDF copy manual that I am working on and send it to my phone and have it right with me and you can zoom in to bits that you can't see clearly, so for me now and I am 67 years old books are out dated.
Love the downloadable versions, sometimes they update them too. Best book or manual for service was the Mini Cooper service manual. It covered 7 years of minis all styles and the pictures and print were top notch, hard back cover too, loved it! Great info here
Which one did you get, Bentley? I have a 2010 Mini S hatchback
I absolutely agree especially with Mopar Nissan and Honda vehicles is you need to refer to the factory service manual the Haynes manual will make you want to pull your hair out, usually I like the Chilton version but I would still prefer the factory service manual set
Paper is all I use I can use the computer one for reference but I need the paper one to actually fix it because I need to have it in my hands.
Great Video! Apologies for the intrusion, I am interested in your opinion. Have you considered - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (Sure I saw it on Google)? It is a smashing one off product for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the headache. Ive heard some unbelievable things about it and my mate got excellent success with it.
Great video content! Excuse me for butting in, I would appreciate your initial thoughts. Have you ever tried - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (erm, check it on google should be there)? It is a good exclusive guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the normal expense. Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my old buddy Taylor after a lifetime of fighting got great success with it.
Thanks for the video content! Apologies for chiming in, I would love your opinion. Have you ever tried - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (probably on Google)? It is an awesome one of a kind guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the hard work. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my mate after many years got great results with it.
I understand someone would want to promote their business, but why are you personalizing actual different people you creep.
azer samaali I am a professional mechanic so I have access to all the professional repair manuals and information
found the factory manual for my Honda! thanks Eric!
Where dis you find it?
@@AnhTran-vw4mo ebay
@@itthus9552 thanks
Good video, and good information. I guess I'm old school, I like having a book in front of me to look through. Can't beat the price of the download though.
The problem I have with Chilton & Haines service manuals is that they constantly fallback to "Consult a qualified service center for this type of repair"... I bought it so I would learn how to do the work, not for it to tell me to take it to the dealer. And they also fall short on model year differences for those editions that cover a large number of vehicles(like the "Chrysler Full-Size Trucks 1967-1988")... not only model years, but model and even makes. All of which has subtle differences. Sometimes there is just no information for a given model in a given year... just look at all the changes made to the 318 over the years. They are great for basic stuff, and I call them the "Extended Owner's Manual".... but for real repair work... NO.
+Mystickneon Couldn't agree with you more !!
I agree entirely. They cover WAY too much and are WAY too vague.
I view the Haynes/Chilton manual as being designed for the home/DIY person who has very little experience and who really shouldn't do some repairs on their own, like me. I can change an alternator but have no business changing a transmission. I see the Factory Service Manuals as for the professional mechanic or advanced home mechanic.
Maybe if I read a repair shop manual I will feel more like a man..great point Jason
It's pretty obvious Haynes is targeted to the non-professional DIY-er and they seem to have taken the conscious decision to not go to the most advanced stuff, most probably because the books would be 3 or 4 times larger.
At the end of the day it's not a huge deal. If you do reach a level that Haynes is incomplete, then it might be time to ignore such types of manuals and go directly to official service manuals (but those assume pros).
I ordered the '99 Corvette service manuals on CD. There are three paperback manuals for that year. I got all three on a CD for $59 I've seen the old manuals go for over $400 used.
I bought myself a manual for my 1998 Civic (manual covers 1996-2000) directly from Helm publishing new. Only cost me like $52 + shipping, IIRC. Didn't get the ETM, though. That book is almost like a "technician in a book," as it were. I mean you obviously still have to have SOME degree of mechanical know-how, but it is as Eric said, it is like a bible. It includes EVERY SINGLE THING you could possibly want a diagram of (except a large portion of the electronics). I love it! Completely worth it!
It's a cost factor. Haynes manuals are usually only about $20, so that's another way of saying that they have their place. I also find the Haynes books seem to present certain things in a more laymen way. In my field, which happens to be IT, it's like comparing Microsoft TechNet to ForDummy's books.
Kudos for the Video clip! Forgive me for butting in, I am interested in your thoughts. Have you tried - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now)? It is a smashing exclusive guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the normal expense. Ive heard some unbelievable things about it and my mate got astronomical results with it.
Thanks for the Video clip! Sorry for chiming in, I would appreciate your thoughts. Have you ever tried - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now)? It is an awesome one off product for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the headache. Ive heard some great things about it and my buddy at last got amazing success with it.
Nice video content! Forgive me for chiming in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you heard about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (probably on Google)? It is a good exclusive product for learning how to repair your car the easy way minus the headache. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my m8 finally got excellent results with it.
Thanks for the Video clip! Sorry for the intrusion, I would appreciate your initial thoughts. Have you heard the talk about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (Sure I saw it on Google)? It is a smashing exclusive product for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the hard work. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my close friend Aubrey finally got great results with it.
EricTheCarGuy
Kudos for the Video clip! Apologies for chiming in, I would appreciate your thoughts. Have you thought about - Tarbbatigan Cars Rehabilitation Tip (do a google search)? It is an awesome one of a kind guide for learning how to repair your car the easy way without the hard work. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my cooworker at last got astronomical success with it.
I know this vid may be old, but combining a tablet with an electronic version of an FSM is the best way to go, you can search and look for troubleshooting pages within the PDF while you are inside the car or near the engine and compare what you see on the PDF and the actual vehicle
Loving the fact that Eric is uselessly covering up the brand name on the manual that appears at 5:36. He showed it for a split second, and we all recognise the general design and layout of the book. We know the name of it.
The last time I used a Haynes manual was on my '95 Tbird. I was replacing the passenger side window motor. It had me drill out the rivets on the bracket and, after I had to buy a pop rivet gun, put new rivets in. After I got 75% through the job I realized that the car NOW has three bolts that allow the motor to be removed without having to do that anymore, which the manual did NOT mention. Obviously the car was updated for that model year, but not the manual, which did cover that year. I bought an official Ford shop manuals (one for mechanics and one for electric) after that. I also have official Honda Shop manuals for my Hondas.
PDF combined with iPad or a similar device is heaven. Constains everything and easy to use and handy.
I couldn't find a good source for a pdf so I bought the whole set of manuals for my truck. 10/10 would recommend.
Haynes repair book transmission removal and installation:
1 disconnect battery cables
2 Jack up car
3 Remove all bolts holding transmission in car
4 drag out out from under the car
5 fix it
6 resemble in reverse order
Ericfmotley Chrysler 727 transmission how to bypass the neutral safety switch
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The Haynes may not be as good but for me, it's way beyond the point of paying for it's self.
Just one example is it showed the engine block coolant drain plugs. I've never owned a sealed coolant system with no radiator cap before. Thought I was starting a 1hr job but was a nightmare till I got the Haynes the next day.
If it saves you from the cost of even one dealer repair then it pays for itself by a factor of X ( X = ALOT ).
Another advantage of the PDF manuals is the ability to zoom up - when you need to take a closer look at an assembly, there's nothing better than simply zoom and pan!
Don't forget, the Vatozone site has similar-to-Haynes manuals accessible for free, as well as your local libraries. Also, check out dedicated car forums. Digital copies are usually available one way or another
i have a 79 chevy truck i'm fixing up, and i went and got a chiltons i think for it and it was ok. NOT what i expected for what i payed for it, but adequate. My uncle has the same truck and he had the service manual and he let me borrow it. world of difference it has everything in there. so when he wanted his back i found one online for 40 buck, i would have payed twice that. deff worth having.
EricTheCarGuy I am not getting a Factory Manuel. It would be cool to see a Chilton vs Haynes pros and cons comparison. I only know Chilton.
Haynes manuals are great if you’re new to working on cars. They make a great gift if you know a high school kid that’s working on a beater.
I personally have no issues with Chilton or Haynes manuals. Both are usually fairly parallell in info and cheap but I will get them both for each vehicle I own because they do each have data or color pictures of things like spark plug conditions that the other doesnt and you can buy them used for around $8. That being said, I also purchased the 4 volume factory service manuals for my 2001 toyota for $130 at rock auto because the chiltonians and haynes do leave out details for hardcore repairs or in-depth diagnostics
when I DIY repairs at home, haynes and chilton have good stuff and info for cars, and have general specs and procedures. for example when doing suspension, it iwll tell you you need to remove a certain piece FIRST, which saves time form doing by figuring it out. often the haynes manuals pictures arent the best and can leave you second guessing yourself. nothing against them, its just sometimes, they arent in "context" if you know what I mean.
I just ordered the electrical troubleshooting manual for my Odyssey. I already own the fat service manual and had not realized what I was missing. Eric's video cost me $20!
Hi,Eric, I agree with what you are saying about the difference in the manufacturer's manual as apposed to the others.
The world is a better, brighter place with these physical books
Yeah, i love how it tells me to remove all this stuff to get the coil springs off my car, but doesn't mention HOW it comes apart.
My 2001 Celica has no paper Chilton or Haynes manual. It can be found online. I printed the basics and add pages whenever I work on a repair or project.
As the new cars come out and they start finding problems with them at the dealerships, the mechanics that work on them see the problems first. Corporates usually try to keep the information from going public. After the lawyers and engineers look at the problem, then they decide if recalls need to be made and what repairs will be covered under warranty. Are there any websites where engineers or techs may discuss this stuff and stay anonymous but let the public techs see this info.
Amen. I picked up manuals for my car (chev impala) on ebay for cheap. Everything is in there. Only thing I don't like is all the references to special tools that I don't have, and special procedures that I can't do. For example, it says programming a new key requires a special tool, but there's no mention of the fact that leaving the key 'on' for 10 minutes will also program it. Awesome video, though.
I liked how you said "The Automatic transmission, the reason why I got this" Honda really messed up on their V6 automatics. lol I hope you resolve your issues. I think in 05 they re-designed them for better fluid flow to the 3rd gear clutch packs. Maybe you can get a crashed one from a Junkyard.. Also, a factory service manual is an excellent tool, and can save you A LOT of money. Great video.
If you search really hard you can get the pdf. manuals for free on the many car forums. I downloaded a manual for my 94-97 accord for free many years ago and it has come in very handy.
you made some good points however i would like to add that the only downside for the pdf version is that it is not convenient if you have an overheated engine, dead battery, or flat tire and you need a resource to look up a procedure unless you're experienced and know what you're doing
I get mine from Amazon. I purchased a manual on Chevy front and rear suspension systems and Chevy Trucks and engines used for like 5 bucks a piece. They were in pretty bad shape but the paper is of high qaulity. Haynes repair manuals have manuals for every car and truck you can imagine. They even have manuals on decommissioned NASA shuttles.
I've got my Honda Accord factory service manual book and on CD and V6 supplemental manual. I guard it with my life.
Bishko makes automotive literature on paperback or CD. I got mine from Amazon.
For the price, nothing beats a digital download of the manual, BUT you have to take into consideration the (sometimes) inconvenience of having to use a computer WHILE working on your vehicle. That's why I've always preferred the books, ease of access.
I have the .pdf shop manual and an Alldata subscription for my 08 Focus. Almost identical but alldata gives me updated TSB's which have saved me tons of time tracking down a couple of problems. Aftermarket manuals often cover multiple years of cars in the same book and can lead to some confusion. I love the torque settings in the shop manuals given all the plastic and aluminum in today's engines. Although the engineers that write them sometimes over complicate some procedures
I purchased a Haynes manual for my car, a BMW E34 525i, and any time I've tried to use it I found the information insufficient and ended up using the far superior Bentley manual or Lord Google.
A Hayens manuel is great for the DIY guys like me. I do like the Hayens manuel because ther are lots of images in ther and becaus i just started of working on my car it's a great help to see the things you have to do. The electronic manual is great as well i know that as well but then again i dont have i PC or laptop in my garage at home so that's why i go for paper books.
I agree 100% with you and now trying to find my factory service manual for my 1994 Ford Mustang Convertible for download. But I'm having trouble finding it. Do you have or does anyone have any suggestions to where to go to find the service manual for download? Also it sucks that you have to keep repeating your self over and over again. But I would do the same thing. Your just protecting yourself. Keep up the good work and thank you for taking your time to make videos for us to watch.
how can i buy the CD for 2005 honda Odyssey-Service& Repair Manuals, And Electrical Troubleshooting Manual, I enjoy the show you had with the Manual.
The only real difference in the workshop manuals is the level of skill of the reader.
You are a professional so you need the full blast version, the hobbyest just needs a basic one with pictures and colouring crayons , lol :-)
Ive used haynes for years and they are great for a basic understanding, and basic settings, if your just replacing bits for new the haynes are great!.
Pdf's are good if they are not just crude scans of a manual.
Good vlog :-)
Awsome Video Eric, i was lucky enough to find a pdf one for my 97 civic, now im searching for one for my wifes 95 eclipse
Where / can I find / search / download a PDF serv. Manua,l same or close to the factory service manual like you did ?
10:20 eBay
no. like he said in the beginning. it could be any store bought manual. difference is the shop service manual comes directly from car company itself. for example in this video Honda. Chilton, Haynes, or whatever you may use they are a cheaper version of the factory service manuals.
I bought those service manuals for my car too
When I first bought an e-copy of the '05 Neon service manual from eBay, it was advertised for the '00-'05 Neon but was actually an '04 Neon manual. It was mostly accurate, but the little differences got a little annoying. All of them were '04 Neon manuals, and at least the one I bought turned out to be pirated.
However, when I broke down and found the paper manual, it was actually for the '05 Neon. So far it seems more accurate for my car, but only time spent reading will tell.
I agree, I would print the pages I need, but sometimes while in the midst of a repair or diagnosis you are not going to know to print every page or diagram you need, so in those instances the dead-tree manual does have an advantage. Not a big issue really, but if came across a Toyota FSM/ETM for my Corolla and the price was $80, I'd jump.
I agree, with electronic sources are the best as well
Beware when ordering the SAAB 9000 factory manuals; the real deal comes in a stack of boxes and the manuals alone stack up to about a meter. Now in our case that included the revised versions for a couple of years but I totally agree with ETCG, the factory manuals are worth every penny. They have complete disassembly and troubleshooting guides and pictures of actual service for the tricky parts, and this goes on for each and every component.
Trust me, you want them.
i agree with you. i got a haynes manual for a e46 bmws and sometimes they start explaining how to do a repair, but in the middle they start to complicate things. not only that, mine does not explain hot to rebuild a diff because it says that you need special tools. haynes are generic.
I like haynes manuals for the simpler repair work, as they often will list and have a picture of a way to get something off without the Manufacturers special tool.
This info was really useful. The haynes manual isn't available for my car, but I was able to get the service manual from ebay at reasonable price.
I try to get a hold of the factory service manuals and technical service bulletins. but failing that, a Haynes will suffice for most jobs. I prefer the digital copies over hard copies as I can keep backups and keep the tsb's up to date.
The wiring diagrams can be very vague, the haynes manual does two versions for my car (a peugeot 406) one is for 1996 to 2000 cars, the other is 2000-2004, but even with the newer book the wiring diagrams were for the non multiplexed cars up to 2001, the wiring system changed in 2002 so all the diagrams are useless.
Hayes is a good manual its deals with most things and its laid out for a person that knows the basics for the job.. The factory manual i want is so hard to find (mk3 golf VR6).. I mainly use AUTODATA & ETKA give me all the info i need.
Excellent! I already found a service manual for my Hyundai on ebay!
If you do some digging you can sometimes find the E versions online for free, mainly for older cars. i found the honda one for my 91 integra threw google in some old forum post somewhere and its been a fantastic resource
A lot of the time you can search car forums for links to these PDFs for free. If your time is worth a lot of money though and you can't find it right away then for sure find a someone who will sell it to you. I went to a Honda forum and found a link to the shop manual for my '98 Civic.
I'm in college right now for autos and we use nothing but identifix and on demand 5. Both are updated automatically and you pay for it yearly i believe.
Uh, oh, I was almost convinced to throw Rob's Chilton & Haynes manuals away....
But thought that I'd better not, I'll just get the factory service manual on disc for him,
that way all will be well on the homestead!!!! LOL
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Merrie-Merrie
I found ford fusion dvd manual for 8 to 9 dollars. thanks for the information. I have just been getting the books hahah
Hey Eric, at the end of the video is where you say "RTFM", hehe :) Love your videos, keep em coming!
Thanks for the information. It seems better to pay a little more and buy the shop service manuals even though I don't work on cars besides very basic repairs. But, I can pay one of a few friends who are experienced and the money I will save will more than pay for the shop manual.
I found a full set of my car's service manuals for only around $25 and the Haynes was under $10. I went ahead and got both because it's better that way in my opinion. The other car I'm thinking about getting is a '94 Grand Marquis and they have a set of those manuals for around $75 on eBay. I try to avoid pirated content and I think those PDFs on eBay are illegal, so I just hope that the cars I buy have cheap service manuals or I can use multiple other resources. My college has a database for automotive and it's not way too extensive but it's still free.
You get what you pay for. You want to do a professional repair, pay for a professional manual. You want to do an amateur repair, go with the Haynes. The Haynes manual is based on a complete tear down and rebuild of the car, nothing more. For many things in cars, you actually can simply take them apart and put them back together, but if you're looking to seriously repair your vehicle properly, you'll want to know torque specs, what fluids to use when and where, and real diagrams.
man!!!I love your vids, your channel makes youtube a very awesome place:)
title says "a word on service manuals." says at least 600,000
Yeah, they do have some useful information. I do like the "Problem Diagnostic" feature at the rear of the manual but the same problem reoccurs again and again no matter what the task in hand. Not enough detail. Which, given you're relying on them to guide you through a repair is ridiculous. The amount of times I've been half way through a task and then it might as well of burst into flames for how useful it became, is unreal. There's nothing more frustrating than having to abandon a repair.
I love Factory manuals. I have one for our 2008 Honda Civic FN2R and one for our 2000 S2000. The one we got for the Civic is a factory manual we were able to buy off Honda brand new. This was the most expensive manual I have ever bought at $300 a book (and there was 2 large and a sup), while the S2000 was only $50 for 2 its a used book but I live in Aus, we didn't get a Paper manual so I had to get a US manual. Only difference is the steering wheel is on the wrong side, but the rest is great :)
I have a Mercedes WIS and it takes a month to figure out, then the circuit diagrams are as you say, "Bits and pieces." I thought Mercedes would be better than most.
I love the old paper manual for my 98 Dodge Ram. But the electronic version for my wife's lexus is way too expensive for me to subscribe to continuously. Even a 48 hour peek is expensive. Sure, it is probably more up to date, but at great cost.
I'll have to look for a non-dealer to sell me a PDF version, which lexus don't seem to offer.
I am lucky I bought all the factories manuals when the Collier chevy dealer closed. I went to the auction and they had over 10 items up for sale . I bought 2003 venture 1991 camry and 2009 honda civic If I knew then what I know now I would have bought the set it sold for 150 bucks.I got my sets for 22 bucks . The guy who bought all the rests of the sets for 150 bucks.
I could have made thousands!!!!! I also have Chilton which is pretty good. I find the non factory ones show how to do it
Electronic manuals are great easier to find what you are looking for but I still need to print out the pages of interest before I go out on a job. I hate an oily keyboard and mouse,
do you have access to All Data or other online sources? I'm getting into a habit of always checking proper procedures before jumping into any repair, it's a really good idea too. I use a free repair info source through my local library. It;s not the best but it helps a lot sometimes. It even had the procedure to time a cam synchro shaft and so far no trouble codes.
I Agree Correct Wiring Diagrams are Gold!
Not just the Diagram but Also Correct Wiring Color Codes make a world of Difference!!!
Toyota TIS is $15 for 48 hours, you could save all the .pdf files for the Lexus in that time and stitch together a nice manual for future reference.....
First of all I wanted to say thanks for covering the Subaru. I have a 2000 Subaru with 60k mi and while it's still handling as good as when I got it I'd like to learn about how subaru's are built in general. One thing I wanted to say about ebooks in general is that while they appear to be a good deal the publishers themselves usually do not sell them for much less than their physical book counterpart not to say that's the case here and you did buy it so I think it's fair that you paid $8 for it.
alot of older nissan FSM's (late 80's 90's and early 00's) can be found for free on forums and sites just for FSM's free of charge :)
The BMW manuals for download (I must assume including the ones in print that's for sale) on eBay that claim to cover "3 Series E30 1982 or 1984 to 1994" are a misrepresentation. They don't cover beyond 1990. Anyone needing a repair manual for the "1991 318i and 318is made for America market" will find that most manuals skip the model so there's no information on the M42B18 engine and related systems in these cars.
It seems you must buy two factory repair manuals, one covering the years before and one covering the years after the 1991 model. If you or anyone knows different or better, I would certainly appreciate your sharing this knowledge. Thanks.